Iranian Revolutionary Guard closes Strait of Hormuz, threatens violators

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy has announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that "the fate of ships violating Iranian laws will be to burn," in a move that further threatens navigation in one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.

This escalation follows a statement by the Revolutionary Guard on October 12, reporting that a giant oil tanker with a capacity of about two million barrels struck a mine while attempting to cross the strait with its navigation system switched off. The Guard noted this was the third vessel to hit sea mines in the restricted channel since Saturday.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported issuing four alerts on the same day regarding ships targeted by unidentified projectiles in the strait.

Ali Azmaei, commander of the Revolutionary Guard Navy, had previously warned that ships disabling their navigation and identification systems would be classified as "hostile vessels."

Repeated closures since outbreak of conflict

Iran has closed the strait several times since the outbreak of war in February, most notably in March when a Revolutionary Guard official threatened to burn any ship attempting passage, and again on July 12 following renewed US strikes. The US Central Command later announced the reopening of international shipping lanes in late August after Iranian mines were cleared.

About 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz.